372 replies to this topic

[Skyscrapergeek]

Congratulations on the new towers. Sounds like a wonderful project. I do a some business in Memphis and will look forward to watching these rise. It will make the boring drive between Nashville and Memphis a little easier to look forward to.

[jmduke]

GRRR!!!  Looks like our fine socialite and occasional fashion designer Pat Kerr Tigrett and some of her Waterford Place buddies oppose the One Beale project because it might block some of their views.  Now it's a 30-day delay for Carlisle to get project approval.

http://www.commercia...4908663,00.html

You know, I don't want to go off on a rant here, but good grief, it's that kind of thinking which has given us a downtown which has had one class A office building constructed in the past 21 years.  Just when we're finally, maybe starting to turn a corner, people such as these who actually have some pull in city politics try to reduce the scale of the project or even eliminate it.  One Beale can only improve the real estate values downtown, and who knows, Tigrett just might have the money to buy one of the new condos.

Enough of that; at least the article has a decent rendering of the project and the print edition even has a rendering of the St. Mary's project in North Downtown.  It's a decent looking tower.

[gaushell]

jmduke, on Aug 11 2006, 08:26 AM, said:

Enough of that; at least the article has a decent rendering of the project ...  It's a decent looking tower.

You meant to say - a great rendering right? LOL

Glad it came out - we've been sitting on it since Monday. Actually thought it was going to show up in the Thursday article. News 3 showed the video clip that we created for the website last night at 10 as well.

[jmduke]

gaushell, on Aug 11 2006, 08:36 AM, said:

You meant to say - a great rendering right? LOL

I was 1/2 referring to the St. Mary's rendering.  Not much detail in the small black-and-white picture the print edition had.  Unfortunately the online edition didn't have the St. Mary's picture and only a small rendering of the One Beale.  When are we going to see a great, er, fantastic, 800x600 or better picture on the website?

[jmduke]

Hate to be a board hog (sorry, RK), but I saw this blurb in the MBJ about the Land Use Control Board freeze.  Looks like One Beale grew to 468 feet in the past few days...

http://memphis.bizjo...tml?jst=b_ln_hl

If that's the case (if Tigrett and Co. don't kill it), Clobber, Dale, and Memphica can rest easy and the high heels can thankfully stay put

[ricky_the_great]

someone scan the grainy rendering! haha

[memphica]

I'm sure this happens in other cities.  But since I live here in the Memphis area, I guess i just hear about small minded thinkers more.  How could these towers be anything but good.  And as far as the veiws are concerned I think ONE Beale would be  a great veiw!  Not to mention bring up the areas realestate prices.  Oh well kick on Tigrett, ask walter baley where that got him with the FORUM.  (PS I'm putting the heels up temporarily mind you 30 days ha ha)

[AmandaHugginkiss]

I think this project will be stalled but not to long. Memphis is getting a possible "Icon" tower and a possible increase in real estate values, like mentioned above. Sorry, Waterfront, but these types of things happen with time. Skylines change shape over a period of time. They have to be realistic. "Its obstructing our views?" Like Waterfront is supposed to be the only tower with a good view. This is called competition and right now its One Beale's turn to shine. I say build the hell out of this tower. (Right in front of Waterfront).

Sorry about the rant.

[Bears]

Even though I'm in support of One Beale, I can see the concern of the people of Waterford Plaza. If I was investing $1,800/month, I certainly won't want my condo's resale chances to go down. Dunno how much their worries would matter since its basically Waterford Plaza vs. Waterford Plaza+One Beale. According to the MBJ article, Carlisle said "The project, which has been redesigned from the initial proposal, will minimize obstruction of views because of the building's placement on the property and the nature of the two towers, which will allow for light and views in between the residential and hotel components. You can't do this project or any kind of project of any stature without some kind of obstruction." These kind of things happen in Chicago all the time. Its just the reality of city life.

Edit-Another article on One Beale w/ rendering for those of you who don't have CA registration...
http://www.memphisfl...t?oid=oid:18488
The supporters of this project are Office of Planning and Development staff and the Center City Commission and I believe their opinions would be the only one that counts in the end.

Edited by Bears, 11 August 2006 - 12:45 PM.

[Clobber]

jmduke, on Aug 11 2006, 08:58 AM, said:

I was 1/2 referring to the St. Mary's rendering.  Not much detail in the small black-and-white picture the print edition had.  Unfortunately the online edition didn't have the St. Mary's picture and only a small rendering of the One Beale.  When are we going to see a great, er, fantastic, 800x600 or better picture on the website?

What did the St. Mary's rendering look like?

And the only compromise I would encourage would be to maybe back One Beale away from the tracks.  It looks like it abuts it.  Maybe if the property allows it, push it toward Front?  I remember someone saying that Carlisle owned the parking lot by Front west from the Orpheum.  Same height, maybe preserves more views?  The prob with Waterford is that it's built against Front, and there's that parking lot between it and the tracks.  That's available, developable land that is wasted, and with projects like this, they will suffer b/c of it.

Under no condition would I want the project shrunk.

Edited by Clobber, 11 August 2006 - 02:13 PM.

[memphica]

Clobber, on Aug 11 2006, 03:09 PM, said:

What did the St. Mary's rendering look like?

And the only compromise I would encourage would be to maybe back One Beale away from the tracks.  It looks like it abuts it.  Maybe if the property allows it, push it toward Front?  I remember someone saying that Carlisle owned the parking lot by Front west from the Orpheum.  Same height, maybe preserves more views?  The prob with Waterford is that it's built against Front, and there's that parking lot between it and the tracks.  That's available, developable land that is wasted, and with projects like this, they will suffer b/c of it.

Under no condition would I want the project shrunk.

Clobber, there is a pretty nice rendering of the new tower on www.downtownmemphis.com under current projects.  I really like the new tower, it actually has a sort of crown on it!!!!

[PHofKS]

memphica, on Aug 11 2006, 03:47 PM, said:

Clobber, there is a pretty nice rendering of the new tower on www.downtownmemphis.com under current projects.  I really like the new tower, it actually has a sort of crown on it!!!!

Or click here.

Nice building!

[northernbizzkit1]

I really like the rendering of the St. Mary's tower! Is that what it's going to be called? Also, on the downtownmemphis.com rendering there is a sky bridge that seems as though it connects to the church...or is that just the mixed-use building with the church poking out from behind it?

I'm sorry, but Memphis needs to tell Tigrett, "Thanks for lighting the bridge, but stop with the Cybill Shephard bit against towers and enjoy your penthouse." People like this are what has held Memphis back for YEARS! A while ago, I mentioned how I was having a discussion about Memphis and how it never got the Atlanta growth partly due to the old cotton families who used their pull to get things in the city to stagnate and in their favor...At least it sounds as though the CCC supports it...hopefully they outweigh the opinion of Pat Kerr...blah. If it goes in the favor of One Beale, I think he should connect the towers just to annoy her...sorry...I'm gonna be mad if it doesn't happen!!!!

[northernbizzkit1]

o...and one more thing! Do these people not see that the revenues made from this building would FAR outweigh the issues stemming from the Southwest corner of Waterford Plaza? If the Office of Planning and Development and the CCC are in favor, one might think it could get built...hopefully we will realize the philosophy that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...i.e....there are MANY people on UP who will go down to the few people at Waterford Plaza and have some Memphis gangsta' lovin' if they cause this project to stagnate! Don't put the heels up just yet...we may need them to show Pat Kerr some justice!

[Clobber]

PHofKS, on Aug 11 2006, 04:24 PM, said:

Or click here.

Nice building!

Thanks.  That's pretty effin sweet.  27-story oval cylinder.  Modern design.  Something of a crown.  Exactly the kind of thing downtown needs to diversify its skyline.  That, along with One Beale if it goes as planned will really complement the current historic structures we have.

[gaushell]

PHofKS, on Aug 11 2006, 04:24 PM, said:

Or click here.

Nice building!

That is not the current design.

Sorry that I can't post it yet. I don't know why the CA didn't post a larger version - even the online version was tiny. When we are allowed to post it I'll let you know..

The one at the Memphis Flyer is current but still small

http://www.memphisfl...building001.jpg

Edited by gaushell, 12 August 2006 - 01:29 PM.

[bluff2085]

Interesting how the skyline is growing along the river; w/ One Beale expanding the skyline to the south, and the St. Mary's tower extending it to the north.  Wonder how long it's gonna take for some new high rise developments to expand our skyline to the east.  Development in DT Memphis seems to be drawn to the mighty Mississippi much more so than St. Louis and New Orleans--where 'scrapers have been rising away from the river for decades.

About the neighborhood opposition to One Beale...Come on guys.  Carlisle has essentially split the original One Beale design in two.  Wasn't the space b/t the 2 towers facilitated by the revised plan so as not to completely obstruct views from surrounding buildings? I could be wrong. I was under the impression that the increase in height came partly from the architects' need to incorporate such a viewing space.  Give Gene Carlisle a break! Waterford residents will still enjoy amazing views of the river.  This isn't even about the height.  This is about keeping our downtown momentum from taking another blow (and a big one at that) from the fists of people like Tigrett.  No offense.  

What's FFoR's take on this?  I wouldn't be surprised to see Virginia McLean allign her organization w/ Tigrett so she can have even more friends.  FFoR has already foiled many of RDC's grand visions for DT (though I wouldn't argue that the RDC's plans didn't have some shortcomings as well).  Either way, I'm looking forward to future large-scale projects like One Beale where the various powers-that-be in Memphis are more unified in their vision for Downtown.  But first, let's get this baby rollin!

Edited by bluff2085, 12 August 2006 - 01:05 AM.

[AmandaHugginkiss]

I like the approach of building along the river, especially, with nothing to the west of DT. Its powerful to see nothing but land and all of a sudden, you see civilization just across the bridge. IMO, the Waterfront situation is only a speed bump and the plan will go forward. We are talking about a huge change to downtown Memphis with a lot of upside potential.

Off Topic: I read somewhere that it was proposed that Memphis would get a jumbo tron; I just wanted to know if anyone else has read or heard this as well?

[jrox]

AmandaHugginkiss, on Aug 12 2006, 01:51 PM, said:

I like the approach of building along the river, especially, with nothing to the west of DT. Its powerful to see nothing but land and all of a sudden, you see civilization just across the bridge. IMO, the Waterfront situation is only a speed bump and the plan will go forward. We are talking about a huge change to downtown Memphis with a lot of upside potential.

Off Topic: I read somewhere that it was proposed that Memphis would get a jumbo tron; I just wanted to know if anyone else has read or heard this as well?

A couple of years ago they were talking about putting a large New York Style one up by Peabody place somewhere. Hopefully it is still in the works.

[Bears]

AmandaHugginkiss, on Aug 12 2006, 02:51 PM, said:

Off Topic: I read somewhere that it was proposed that Memphis would get a jumbo tron; I just wanted to know if anyone else has read or heard this as well?

I don't know if this is what your talking about. A digital billboard...
http://www.memphisda...s.aspx?id=93405
I hope this won't be tacky. There are a few digital screens near Peabody Place and atop the Rock and Soul Museum at Fedex Fourm. Peabody Place could become a "Times Square" of sorts for Memphis. IMO its the most attractive intersection in the entire state.